National Emergency Mobile Alert

[Gromit]

I understand I should soon expect a nuisance call from the Government.
I need my phone to be constantly switch on.
Would setting my VPN to North Korea avoid the call ?

[douglas9401]

When you hear the air attack warning, you and your family must take cover.

Unless you're too special to be annoyed by such fripperies.

See you under the table, probably.

[Redhelen72]

I believe there was instructions in one of the newspapers on how to set your phone up in order not to receive this test.
However I do not understand people objections to the test

[youngmafbog]

Just turn notifications off Gromit. And remember the tablet too.

It works on both iPhone and Android. Generally Settings -> Notifications -> Emergency Alerts.

[barry1010]

Gromit, it will be far simpler to tap the screen when the alert goes off but it is easy to disable it in your phone's settings https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11984833/How-turn-Governments-armageddon-emergency-alert-happen-3pm-Sunday.html

[youngmafbog]

// it will be far simpler to tap the screen when the alert goes off//

Not if you are driving

Not if you have a hidden phone for domestic abuse.

[barry1010]

Surely if people have a hidden phone due to domestic abuse they keep it switched off so that it is always charged ready to use.

[barry1010]

I keep my phone switched off when I'm driving, usually in the glove box

[douglas9401]

I knew this would happen.

[Old_Geezer]

On many phones there is a way to turn them off, but from experience they may be hidden, presumably deliberately since one can think of no reason it would be accidental. I found mine under a setting submenu labelled 'location'.

I read somewhere that if you aren't on data that you couldn't receive it, but elsewhere on the Net someone commented that it used SMS. Madness if true. Think of how many hours it takes to get your annual 'Happy New Year' texts out to your friends. In which case, expect to be alerted Wednesday ?

[barry1010]

OG, they are not sent to induvial phone numbers, it is a special signal broadcast from every transmitter and reaches every phone within that transmitter's zone.
A lot of countries already use this system.
I can turn them off on my Android phone in settings - Apps & Notifications - Emergency Alerts. From there I choose which alerts to switch off - amber, extreme, severe and choose vibrate only if I prefer.

I don't see it as a problem for the majority of people

[youngmafbog]

Not according to charities Barry.

And it will sound loudly in your glove box. And keep going.

[THECORBYLOON]

I would think the alert messages would be given priority over other messages in the pipeline and the alert would not be delayed.

If that were not the case, it would defeat the object of its being available to respond to an emergency or provide important, time-specific information.

[barry1010]

It won't sound in my glove box because I keep it switched off when I'm driving

[youngmafbog]

And just what Nation Emergency would we have in the UK?

If a nuke, its too late. We dont get earthquakes, hurricanes and Tsunamis and there are no volcano's.

It's yet more Government nannying and intrusion. Call themselves Tories, ha!

[youngmafbog]

Good for you, but most dont.

[THECORBYLOON]

"You may get alerts about:
severe flooding
fires
extreme weather"

[Gromit]

Thanks ymb/and others.

Done.

[New Judge]

I, too, fail to see what possible use this could be. I've looked at the government website's FAQs on the topic and can only find this:

"Emergency alerts will be used to inform people about severe threats to life in particular areas, such as flooding or wildfires."

And this:

"However, these alerts are potentially life-saving so we recommend you keep them switched on"

I cannot think of any potential situation in this country where a text message from the government would keep me safe. Their blurb mentions "flooding and wildfires". In the event that either of those presents a threat, those affected would know about it long before somebody is dragged off their sofa whilst "working from home" to get an emergency text message out. Incredible as it may seem, people have learned to deal with emergencies and generally don't rely on the government to tell them one is about to occur.

But of course it make government ministers feel good because they've done something which will "potentially save lives." Something else they might consider (which would be certain to save a lot more lives) is to get the NHS abandoned in its current form and replaced with something more effective. But that is in the "too difficult" file.

[Zacs-Master]

'they are not sent to induvial phone numbers, it is a special signal broadcast from every transmitter and reaches every phone within that transmitter's zone'

All well and good but doesn't explain the need to acknowledge the alert.

[Gromit]

I never signed up for Government alerts.
I have not seen a valid explanation of why have them and what good it will do me or anyone else. They have acquired the numbers on the sly, probably from information I voluntarily gave for covid tracking.

And this is a validation exercise. See how many numbers are active and ditch the rest. And there doesn’t seem to be an option to opt out.